Indianapolis, IN - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita today urged all New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina evacuees, who have temporarily relocated to Indiana, to immediately contact the Louisiana Secretary of State in order to participate in the upcoming Orleans Parish elections. Elections postponed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be held April 22 and May 20.

"I want to ensure that all eligible Louisiana voters temporarily living in Indiana have the opportunity to vote in their elections back home," Secretary Rokita said. "It's important that all evacuees exercise their right to vote in Louisiana's upcoming elections."

Registered Louisiana voters who have temporarily relocated to Indiana are still eligible to vote in their home parishes if they have not registered to vote in Indiana or another state. Those voters have three opportunities to vote: by mail using an absentee ballot, in person at the Registrar of Voters' Office six to 12 days before an election or in person at the polling place on Election Day.

"Though my family and I are temporarily living in Indianapolis due to hurricane Katrina, I am still very interested in the rebuilding of New Orleans," said Jerry Bonnet, interim General Counsel for Rokita's Office. "I have already registered to vote absentee in the upcoming New Orleans city council and mayoral election. It was easy. I think it's very important that people who cannot yet return to the area continue to be represented by elected officials, and the best thing we can do is to vote for candidates who won't exclude us from the rebuilding and repopulating process."

Hurricane Katrina evacuees who would like more information on how to check their current registration status, register to vote or cast a ballot should contact Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater's Office at 1-800-883-2805 or via email at elections@sos.louisiana.gov. Today is the deadline to register for the Parish Primary Election to be held on April 22. The deadline to register for the May 20 General Election is April 19.